Recreational shooting rules on hold

AVERY - Stanislaus National Forest staff turnover will delay for nearly another year any permanent decision on how to regulate recreational shooting at Candy Rock, a former quarry site near Avery.

Dana M. Nichols

AVERY - Stanislaus National Forest staff turnover will delay for nearly another year any permanent decision on how to regulate recreational shooting at Candy Rock, a former quarry site near Avery.

The site has for decades been a popular place for locals to practice target shooting or to adjust the sights on hunting rifles. But increasing numbers of visitors and more frequent shooting have prompted complaints from neighbors, some of whom live only about a third of a mile from the quarry.

By 2010, some said the noise was so severe they were unable to conduct conversations sitting outside on residential decks about 600 yards from the quarry.

Recreational shooting, as long as it is done in a safe manner, is allowed on National Forest lands. Forest officials said Candy Rock has an impeccable safety record, and gun enthusiasts there generally clean up after themselves.

In contrast, a nearby river swimming hole is the scene of drownings almost every summer, forest officials said.

Responding to the concerns, Stanislaus Forest officials in 2011 imposed temporary rules that ban shooting at night and Sundays.

Since then, however, they have continued to study the matter and whether more stringent regulation is needed. By October, forest officials had expected to decide on issues including whether to ban weapons .50-caliber and higher.

Some changes proposed by the Forest service would benefit recreational shooters. For example, the Forest Service is proposing to allow shooting year round at Candy Rock. It is banned Dec. 15 to April 15.

Forest officials, however, are also considering whether to ban shooting at the site altogether.

But the decision had been delayed because of staff turnover, Stanislaus Forest spokesman Jerry Snyder said.

"A key employee left to take another job, causing delays in completing work," Snyder wrote in an email. "We hope to have the vacant position filled soon."

The shooting at Candy Rock has been controversial in the surrounding community. According to Forest Service documents, more than 400 people have offered suggestions on the issues to be considered.